Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Does Not Have a Negative Impact on Bone Signaling Pathways in Humans.

INTRODUCTION: Oxygen is emerging as an important factor in the local regulation of bone remodeling. Some preclinical data suggest that hyperoxia may have deleterious effects on bone cells. However, its clinical relevance is unclear. Hence, we studied the effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) on serum biomarkers reflecting the status of the Wnt and receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) pathways, two core pathways for bone homeostasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a prospective study of 20 patients undergoing HBOT (mean age 58 yrs., range 35-82 yrs.) because of complications of radiotherapy or chronic anal fissure. Patients were subjected to HBOT (100% oxygen; 2.4 atmospheres absolute for 90 min). The average number of HBOT sessions was 20 ± 5 (range 8-31). Serum hypoxia-inducible factor 1-α (HIF1-α), osteoprotegerin (OPG), RANKL, and the Wnt inhibitors sclerostin and dickkopf-1 (DKK1) were measured at baseline and after HBOT by using specific immunoassays. RESULTS: HIF-1α in eight patients with measurable serum levels increased from 0.084 (0.098) ng/mL at baseline to 0.146 (0.130) ng/mL after HBOT (p = 0.028). However, HBOT did not induce any significant changes in the serum levels of OPG, RANKL, sclerostin or DKK1. This was independent of the patients' diagnosis, either neoplasia or benign. CONCLUSION: Despite the potential concerns about hyperoxia, we found no evidence that HBOT has any detrimental effect on bone homeostasis.

Influence of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on bone metabolism in patients with neoplasm.

BACKGROUND: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is useful in the treatment of complications due to radiotherapy in patients with neoplasm. Its effects on bone metabolism are unclear. In our study, we analyzed the effects of HBOT on bone remodeling in oncological patients with radiotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prospective clinical study in 23 patients with neoplasms undergoing treatment with HBOT due to complications of radiotherapy (hemorrhagic cystitis, proctitis or radionecrosis) and 25 patients with chronic anal fissure. The average number of HBOT sessions was 20 ± 5 (100% oxygen, 2.3 atmospheres and 90 min per day). Serum levels of aminoterminal propeptide of type I collagen (P1NP), C terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX), alkaline phosphatase (AP), 25hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD), parathyroid hormone (PTH), were measured at 3 time points: T0 (before beginning HBOT), T1 (at the end of HBOT) and T2 (6 months after HBOT). RESULTS: At baseline, the patients with neoplasm have higher bone turnover than those with anal fissure. These differences were 41% in CTX (0.238 ± 0.202 ng/mL in neoplasm and 0.141 ± 0.116 ng/mL in fissure; p = 0.04), 30% for PTH (46 ± 36 pg/mL in neoplasm and 32 ± 17 pg/mL in fissure; p = 0.04) and 15% for alkaline phosphatase (80 ± 24 U/L in neoplasm and 68 ± 16 U/L in fissure; p = 0.04). In the group with neoplasm, the values of P1NP decreased 6% after HBOT (T0: 49 ± 31 ng/mL, T2: 46 ± 12 ng/mL; p = 0.03). Also, there were non-significant decreases in PTH (-34%) and CTX (-30%). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with neoplasm and complications with radiotherapy have an increase in bone remodeling that may be diminished after HBOT.

Repetición de las pruebas microbiológicas en la sospecha de la infección por SARS-CoV-2: utilidad de un score basado en la probabilidad clínica / Repetition of microbiological tests in suspect of SARS-CoV-2 infection: utility of a score based on clinical probability

INTRODUCCIÓN: El diagnóstico de la infección por SARSCoV-2 presenta limitaciones. La RT-PCR en frotis nasofaríngeo es la prueba considerada como el patrón oro, aunque puede ofrecer falsos negativos. El objetivo de este trabajo ha sido evaluar la utilidad de repetir el frotis nasofaríngeo en pacientes con resultado negativo en función de las diferentes probabilidades clínicas. MÉTODOS: Estudio observacional retrospectivo de los primeros pacientes ingresados en el Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla en dos plantas COVID de Medicina Interna durante marzo-abril del 2020. La RT-PCR para la detección de al menos dos dianas de los principales genes (E, N, RdRP, ORFab1) y el test de detección de anticuerpos para la detección de al menos IgG. RESULTADOS: Se analizaron 145 pacientes hospitalizados; 98 (67,5%) con el diagnóstico de SARS-CoV-2. Las variables predictivas independientes de SARS-CoV-2 fueron: contacto epidemiológico con otro paciente COVID-19, presentación clínica como neumonía, ausencia de neumonía en el año previo, inicio de síntomas >7 días al ingreso, ≥2 síntomas -tos, disnea y fiebre- y lactato deshidrogenasa >350 U/L (p < 0,05). Un score basado en estas variables presentó un área bajo la curva ROC (ABC ROC) de 0,89 (IC95 0,831-0,946; p < 0,001). El rendimiento de la RT-PCR en su primera determinación fue del 54,9%. La repetición de la prueba permitió detectar un 16% de casos adicionales. El rendimiento global de sucesivas RT-PCR en pacientes con baja probabilidad clínica fue inferior al 5%. CONCLUSIÓN: Hemos definido un score de probabilidad pre-prueba basado en datos epidemiológicos y clínicos con una buena precisión para el diagnóstico por infección SARSCoV-2. La repetición del frotis nasofaríngeo puede evitar errores de muestreo sólo en escenarios de intermedia-alta probabilidad clínica pre-prueba

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection presents some limitations. RT-PCR in nasopharyngeal swabs is considered the gold standard for the diagnosis, although it can have false negative results. We aimed to analyze the accuracy of repeating nasopharyngeal swabs based on different clinical probabilities. METHODS: Retrospective observational study of the first patients admitted to a two COVID Internal Medicine wards at the University Hospital Marqués de Valdecilla, Santander, from March to April 2020. RT-PCR targering E, N, RdRP and ORFab1 genes and antibody tests detecting IgG. RESULTS: A total of 145 hospitalized patients with suspected SARS-Cov2 infection were admitted and in 98 (67.5%) diagnosis was confirmed. The independent predictive variables for SARS-CoV-2 infection were: epidemiological contact, clinical presentation as pneumonia, absence of pneumonia in the last year, onset of symptoms > 7 days, two or more of the following symptoms -dyspnea, cough or fever- and serum lactate dehydrogenase levels >350 U/L (p < 0.05). A score based on these variables yielded an AUC-ROC of 0.89 (CI95%, 0.831-0.946; p < 0.001). The accuracy of the first nasopharyngeal swabs was 54.9%. Repeating nasopharyngeal swabs two or three times allows to detect an additional 16% of positive cases. The overall accuracy of successive RT-PCR tests in patients with low pre-test probability was <5%. CONCLUSIONS: We have defined a pre-test probability score based on epidemiological and clinical data with a high accuracy for diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2. Repeating nasopharyngeal swabs avoids sampling errors, but only in medium of high probability pre-test clinical scenarios

Perfil clínico de los pacientes con hematomas retroperitoneales espontáneos / Clinical spectrum of patients with spontaneous retroperitoneal hematomas

Introducción y objetivo: Los hematomas retroperitoneales espontáneos (HRE)son una complicación del tratamiento anticoagulante. Material y métodos: Revisión retrospectiva de los HRE en el Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla (Santander, España) desde el año 2003 al 2013. Se excluyen los traumatismos, los procedimientos invasivos o las roturas de un aneurisma aórtico. Comparamos esta serie con la descrita previamente en nuestro hospital. Resultados: Identificamos 34 HRE (64% mujeres) con una media de edad de 65 años (23-88 años). El 44% estaban anticoagulados por enfermedad cardiaca (81%). Un tercio tenía insuficiencia renal, y el 15%, cáncer. El dolor abdominal se describe en el 85%. La TC se realiza en el 82%. El 32% ingresa en UCI y solo el 20% requiere cirugía. La mortalidad relacionada fue del 21% (media de supervivencia de 5 días; 1-15 días). El 66% reinicia la anticoagulación a los 19 días (2-90 días), sin complicaciones posteriores. Se incrementan los casos no anticoagulados en un 47%. Conclusión: En los casos anticoagulados, la reintroducción del tratamiento, tras la resolución del hematoma, parece una práctica relativamente segura. Se incrementan los casos en pacientes no anticoagulados (AU)

Introduction and objective: Spontaneous retroperitoneal hematoma (SRH) is a potentially fatal clinical entity requiring immediate recognition and intervention. Material and methods: The clinical records of 18-year-old and older patients admitted to the University Hospital Marqués de Valdecilla from 2003 to 2013 were reviewed. “Spontaneous” was defined as unrelated to trauma, invasive procedures or bleeding due to aortic aneurysm rupture. Results: Thirty-four patients with SRH (44% were on anticoagulant drugs). One-third of cases had chronic renal insufficiency. Abdominal pain was the most common symptom both in anticoagulated and non-anticoagulated patients (80% in anticoagulated and 89% in non-anticoagulated patients). About one half of the patients developed shock. A CT scan was the most commonly performed diagnostic test, followed by abdominal ultrasound. Most cases were managed conservatively (80%). More than half of the patients (66%) restarted anticoagulation therapy after the acute event with a mean delay of 19 days (range 2-90 days). None of them suffered a new bleeding episode. Conclusion: Restarting the anticoagulation treatment after hematoma resolution seems to be a safe practice. There is an increasing frequency of SRH in non-anticoagulated patients (AU)

[Clinical spectrum of patients with spontaneous retroperitoneal hematomas]. / Perfil clínico de los pacientes con hematomas retroperitoneales espontáneos.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Spontaneous retroperitoneal hematoma (SRH) is a potentially fatal clinical entity requiring immediate recognition and intervention. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The clinical records of 18-year-old and older patients admitted to the University Hospital Marqués de Valdecilla from 2003 to 2013 were reviewed. "Spontaneous" was defined as unrelated to trauma, invasive procedures or bleeding due to aortic aneurysm rupture. RESULTS: Thirty-four patients with SRH (44% were on anticoagulant drugs). One-third of cases had chronic renal insufficiency. Abdominal pain was the most common symptom both in anticoagulated and non-anticoagulated patients (80% in anticoagulated and 89% in non-anticoagulated patients). About one half of the patients developed shock. A CT scan was the most commonly performed diagnostic test, followed by abdominal ultrasound. Most cases were managed conservatively (80%). More than half of the patients (66%) restarted anticoagulation therapy after the acute event with a mean delay of 19 days (range 2-90 days). None of them suffered a new bleeding episode. CONCLUSION: Restarting the anticoagulation treatment after hematoma resolution seems to be a safe practice. There is an increasing frequency of SRH in non-anticoagulated patients.